Need a Lawn Mower? More D-FW Cities Are Letting You Borrow Tools
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Borrowing tools is a tradition as old as time — maybe even the first person chiseling out a wheel had to wander over to the neighboring cave to borrow a bigger blade. Several cities around North Texas are giving that age-old habit a modern upgrade with a free tool-sharing program that lends everything from lawnmowers to leaf blowers: no neighbor negotiations required.
The goal? Help ensure yard work and property maintenance are accessible, affordable, and stress-free for all residents, no matter whether they can’t afford lawn equipment or simply haven’t had the need to purchase their own. The end result? Fewer code compliance violations and cleaner, neater neighborhoods.
Fort Worth
Fort Worth is one of the latest cities to launch a tool-sharing pilot called the Mobile Tool Shed. For now, the program currently serves residents in the Worth Heights, Seminary, and Fairhaven neighborhoods, but hopes to roll out citywide.
Residents can borrow at no cost items such as lawn mowers, weed eaters, edgers, blowers, leaf rakes, loppers, and more. Tools can be checked out for up to three days; they are dropped off at your doorstep on Friday and picked up on Monday.
“This pilot program is all about breaking down barriers to property upkeep — whether financial, physical, or logistical,” said Brenda Matute, communications coordinator for Fort Worth Code Compliance. “By offering free access to essential yard tools, we’re helping residents maintain their properties, boost neighborhood pride, and stay in compliance with city codes.”
Matute said the program has already made a visible difference in the pilot neighborhoods, and officials are exploring ways to expand it citywide. Matute noted the program is especially helpful for seniors, low-income families, or anyone without the means to own or transport heavy equipment because the mobile tool shed comes to them.
“We’re working to eliminate obstacles that prevent people from caring for their properties. The tools are there for them,” added Brian Daugherty, Fort Worth’s director of Code Compliance.
Daugherty might be the common denominator here — He came to the City of Fort Worth as code compliance director in June 2024 after 17 years at the City of Arlington, which launched their first-of-its-kind tool-sharing program back in 2021.
To participate, Fort Worth residents may call the code compliance department at 817-392-1234 or register and make a reservation online.
Arlington
In Arlington, residents may borrow mowers, pressure washers, edgers, leaf blowers, wheelbarrows, fertilizer spreaders, hedge clippers, drills, tool kits, painting supplies, and push brooms. Residents can even borrow a hammer. Up to four tools can be reserved at a time for up to three days.
The City of Arlington was the first city in Texas to offer doorstep delivery and pickup. They implemented the tool-lending program in 2021 for its residents and quickly saw the results.
In the program’s first year or so, more than 200 residents used the program, and more than 360 reservations have been filled, using 1,228 individual tools. Based on the types of tools checked out, at least 200 potential code violations were corrected, officials say.
“Our tool lending program has truly been a game-changer. Every year, more and more residents take advantage of the free access to tools — not just to improve their homes, but to take pride in them,” said Sergio Erazo, field operations manager for Arlington. “It’s also brought neighbors together, helping strengthen the sense of community we all value.”
Arlington received the International Code Council’s community service award in 2022 for creating the program that both provides residents with city services and reduces unsightly code compliance violations.
To participate, Arlington residents may call 817-459-6777 or reserve tools online.
Dallas
On a smaller scale, Keep Dallas Beautiful offers a Community Hand Tool Program for nonprofit organizations, neighborhood associations, and community groups. They don’t deliver, but community groups can borrow a lawnmower, string trimmer, hedger, pole saw, rake, broom, or shovel free of charge for a weekend clean-up event.
To participate and qualify to use the tools, participants must be a non-profit organization, neighborhood association, or a community group. Requests must be made two weeks in advance of planned use.
City of Dallas groups may register and reserve tools online.
Several other DFW-area cities offer free or low-cost tool-sharing programs. They include:
- Grand Prairie – Residents can borrow tools from the Grand Prairie Tool Lending Trailer for various projects, including yard maintenance, tree and shrub trimming, and pressure washing.
- The Colony – The Colony Cares is a free tool lending program for residents who need assistance with home maintenance. It’s also available to volunteer groups.
- Plano – The Plano Cares program offers residents who don’t have the means or equipment to do their own lawn work a lending hand. Upon qualification, Plano residents can borrow a variety of tools, including mowers, weed eaters, and hand tools.
- Coppell – The City of Coppell Mobile Tool Shed offers any resident the opportunity to borrow a tool free of charge with reservations required in advance. Homeowners’ associations or service organizations may reserve the entire tool trailer.
